Lets face it everything is cute when its small and furry. Puppies especially, but keep in mind that even a wolverine is playfully adorable if its young enough, so for the sake of all the Fidos out there and your life, make a personal selection that is suited to your lifestyle. And as wonderful as they seem when theyre young, keep in mind that they grow up and mature in more ways than probably most of the humans you know.

A good question to ask if you find yourself aching for a canine companion is whether you want a puppy or an adult. There are plenty of wonderful adult dogs that need a home. This is also an ideal choice if you are past the point or in repulsion of the rigors of potty-training as most adult dogs, barring any separation anxiety or bowel disorders, prefer to do their dirty business outside of the home. The majority have also long since past the tumultuous puppy stage which is equivalent to the humans terrible twos only this little one doesnt understand much, if any, English and wont wear a diaper.

When it comes to a dog, size does matter in a big way. Ask yourself how much room you have and no, the park down the street doesnt count into the equation because you dont live there and for Fido to actually have a chance to run around in it, you would have to be with him on the other end of the leash. Your home is going to be your dogs home whether youre there or not and if you live in an efficiency apartment, two mammals running around in it is going to be a tight fit. A backyard is always more beneficial, but not necessary if youre around and available enough to get Fido the exercise he needs. Also, make sure that you check your landlords pet policy for weight limits too. In most places the size of the dog is proportional to the amount of the pet deposit.

Once youve decided whether or not you can handle a big dog or would prefer a smaller one, your next hurdle is sifting through all the breed specifics. It should be said that there are literally thousands of pets, a number of them purebred, waiting for a good home at your local animal shelters for almost no cost, unlike purebreds from breeders that can run you a cost of hundreds, and in extreme cases, thousands of dollars. The pets at the shelter are quality animals that are sometimes actually in a life or death situation. The ASPCA doesnt just deal with stray dogs, they are involved in the prevention of animal cruelty and youd be surprised how many litters of puppies they acquire on a daily basis. Check your local pet stores for adoption days that are run by local no-kill shelters or other pet placement groups.

Dont think that just because you have your heart set on a particular breed that a breeder is your only choice either. For every breed, there is usually a rescue organization that would love to find homes for all the pets that have either been found or surrendered because of various reasons. All kinds of information for every breed imaginable as well as a list of registered breeders in your area are available online at www.akc.org .

When going through the breeds, remember that temperament is vital an example is an elderly couple that adopted a lab puppy and then had to give him away because he was too hyper. Not only was this pretty devastating to them, but to the dog as well. You wouldnt keep going out with someone who was always yelling at you, and dogs dont like that either, so think about the things you currently do now not the things you will do once you get a dog. Everyone has that fantasy of going hiking with their dog on the snowy Alps, but in the real world, youre better off finding a pet that you dont have to change your entire life or address for. Do you already enjoy long walks or are you a homebody that gets worn out just walking to the living room? Exercise and not to mention bathroom habits are going to be the two major factors that Fido will need some kind of participation on your part to get done everyday.

When it comes to health, there are some breeds that are prone to more genetic diseases than the average mutt. Dont let that deter you, just be aware of what the history is of the breeder. A reputable breeder will give you all the information about the genetic line of the mother and father probably before you ask. Both of the parents should be registered with the AKC and should have documentation to prove it, not to mention a veterinarian for a reference.

Be prepared to lay down a pretty penny for your poochs regular check ups. Health insurance is available for pets, believe it or not, but most people dont know about it till they see the pamphlet in the emergency room after something tragic has happened. Yearly check-ups are not usually covered, but these are important for your pets health. Dogs are not like humans, if thats not obvious enough, so they cant tell you that their back has been hurting or theyve been experiencing some hearing loss or that their vision has been cloudy lately. They also cant tell you if theyve been bitten by a mosquito carrying heartworms or if theyve contracted tapeworms. If they scratch a lot, then thats their signal to check for fleas, but thats about the extent of the amount of translations that they can get across. Luckily we have the angels of the animal health care industry to help us out with all of this the veterinarians.

Your veterinarian's office is not just a fun place for puppy shots and to have a room full of people croon over how adorable he is, but for maintaining the health of your pet its entire lifetime. Its a good idea to have a veterinarian in mind before you adopt their future patient and to be aware of the cost for their services; that way the only surprises will be the ones Fido leaves for you on your floor. Yearly vaccinations, neutering, and spaying services are available at minimal costs through various charitable pet organizations in your area, but they usually dont have the resources or facilities to care for an injured or sick pet especially in an emergency and dont doubt for a minute that there wont be at least a few of those in your pets life.

Dogs are notorious for getting themselves into unimaginable situations. Veterinarians and animal technicians could tell you story after hair-raising story of examples of this. There are the stories of the dogs who eat pantyhose, birth control pills, bed sheets, and about a thousand that will eat those little rubber bouncy balls. Then there are the stories of the escape artists who roam the neighborhood or the ones who just ran for their lives because of fireworks that their owner was just sure theyd get a kick out of. There are the kids who were painting while mom had her back turned and before she could stop them theyd made the black lab a colorful Dalmatian with toxic paint that he got sick from.

The stories will go on and on, each a little weirder than the last, but the point is the same for all of them pay attention to your dogs surroundings and train, train, train. I cant say this enough, training will save your dogs life, its a proven fact, ask any veterinarian or dog owner. There are dog trainers all over the nation that will tell you the same thing repetition and positive rewarding are key to training your dog. If a car is coming and hes off the leash for whatever reason, he must know that you mean it when you say Come! A dog that jumps all over your company will only be cute if its little and very, very polite about it; anything bigger than ten pounds will just be a furry pest.

Think of it this way you wouldnt move in with someone who didnt know where to go to the bathroom and never even turned their head when you called out their name, would you? Training resources are available throughout your community. Some trainers give private lessons, while other stores like PetsMart have group classes. For those who dont care how much it costs to make a dog learn to sit, there are doggy boot camps that the pup can go away to for a couple of weeks to learn basic commands, but for the companion animal, a few basic home lessons usually do the trick.

The point is to think about the things you want in a dog as well as what the dog would need from you and if youre prepared to provide for him. The fact that you will outlive this pet should be enough motivation to be completely willing to take the time and put forth the effort in ensuring them the best life they could have.